CASA's 2019 Pre-Budget Submission

CASA submitted recommendations to the government's Finance Committee, on where we think they should invest in the upcoming federal budget to improve post-secondary education and help students.

Summary of recommendations:

Recommendation 1: That the federal government give new post-secondary graduates a 6-month, interest-free period before they have to begin paying back their student loans.

Recommendation 2: That the federal government work with other provinces to make the Canada Learning Bond more easily accessible, by integrating Registered Education Savings Plan referrals with the online birth registration service.

Recommendation 3: That the federal government create an upfront, non-repayable Canada Student Grant for graduate students with high financial need at an estimated cost of $58 million.

Recommendation 4: That the Tri-Council Agencies use some of this money to reinvest in student programs. We recommend a $25 million increase to student programs for each of the Tri-Council Agencies.

Recommendation 5: That the federal government remove the requirement for international students to seek an additional work permit to pursue co-op and internship opportunities, and instead automatically permit this work under the international student study permit.